hybris to help Office Shoes facilitate international growth using multichannel commerce

hybris, a global leader in multichannel commerce solutions, has announced that Office, one of the UK’s best known high street shoe retailers, is to base its extensive new multichannel platform on hybris B2C Commerce. The new platform supports Office’s ambitious growth plans which aim to considerably increase its international sales by broadening its online offer and shifting from a multiple channel retail model to becoming a true multichannel retailer.

hybris will work with solutions integrator, Portaltech, to implement the hybris Multichannel Suite which, as well as B2C Commerce will deliver order management, web, mobile, and online product content management applications. The hybris B2C Commerce solution will be used to support improved multichannel functionality and consistency and online expansion overseas.

Office opened in 1981 and now operates from over 135 outlets and concessions in leading department stores, and has a thriving mail order and online business. Office has a reputation for originality in its approach to shoe retailing and effectively harnesses originality with sound commercial sense in both its product and store designs.

Office reviewed a range of platforms before selecting hybris primarily because it recognized the scalability and resilience of the hybris platform, the strong commercial innovation and the close implementation partnership with Portaltech, one of the UK’s most experienced hybris partners.

In addition the retailer was keen to work with a platform that would allow it to make changes frequently, but with the minimum intervention, using an array of rich business tools.

Robin Worthington, eCommerce Director, at Office Shoes, said: “We spent a great deal of time and effort selecting the right partner to support our future growth plans, and were drawn to the hybris platform for its ability to manage complex product information, its rich multichannel functionality and flexible front end. We are looking forward to extending our unique brand experience and product offer to our UK and international customers.”

Mark Adams, Director at Portaltech comments: “We are looking forward to taking Office Shoes to the next level in terms of their multichannel, international and mobilised trading capability. This project win strengthens further our experience and expertise in the UK apparel retail sector and we are positive that Office Shoes will be able to offer a customer experience equivalent and beyond the most successful online operators in their space as a result.”

Speaking about the new contract, Ariel Lüdi, CEO of hybris, said: “hybris is building something of a reputation amongst high street retailers for delivering flexible, innovative multichannel platforms for expansion overseas. Office already operated multiple channels, but what it will now be able to do with our help is to become a multichannel retailer – the difference is crucial, and it will enhance the customer experience and underline the brand consistency that Office has spent years building.”

About hybris (www.hybris.com) hybris is a leading vendor of next generation end-to-end multichannel commerce software based on a single platform including managed and hosting services. Its clear vision about the need for consistency, coordination and personalization of information across all channels and throughout all phases of the customer lifecycle has resulted in the development of an integrated, agile solution enabling businesses to communicate and sell across all channels – online and offline - in a consistent and effective way. hybris has 14 offices around the world located in the economical capitals of North/South America, Europe and Asia and supports over 380 global customers. Customers are brands from retail and manufacturing industries, including: Adidas, Levi´s, Lufthansa, Clarks, Timberland, Nespresso, Toys´R´Us, Coca Cola Beverages, Ericsson, Rexel, Bobcat, Kaiser+Kraft, Hornbach, Nikon, Migros, Conrad, Iomega and Grundfos.

About Portaltech (www.portaltech.co.uk) Portaltech is an award winning eBusiness consultancy that specialises in the design, implementation, integration and support of eCommerce websites and mobile commerce apps and solutions for multichannel retailing. Portaltech have been operating since 1999, providing unrivalled eCommerce and mobile commerce business solutions for market leading B2C and B2B brands and retailers, including Monsoon & Accessorize, L.K. Bennett, The Body Shop, Sony, Vodafone, Long Tall Sally, Thompson & Morgan, Bunzl Group and The Royal Mail Group.